The rank of Imamat is actually a reflection of Prophethood and the nature of the Imam has been found to be very close to the nature﻿ of the ProphetAl-Faruq, page 325 (Published by Maktaba Madina, Urdu Bazaar, Lahore)

Imam Rabbani; Shaykh Ahmad Sarhandi while referring to the same rank of Imamate as Wilayah wrote:

The gist of the discussion is that Wilayah is the reflection of ProphethoodMaktubaat, Volume 2 page 253 (Idarah Islamiyah. Lahore)

(2)Imamate is an empire in terms of the vicegerency of Prophet [s],﻿ for the affairs that pertain to the world and religionSharah Maqasid, Volume 5 page 232

Renowned Sunni scholar Mawardi (d. 450 AH) wrote:

Imamate is prescribed to succeed Prophethood as a means of protecting the Deen, and managing the affairs of this worldAl-Ahkam al Sultaniyyah page 10 (Ta-Ha publishers, London

[2:124—Albaqarah:124]And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will makeyou an Imam of men. Ibrahim said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust, said He.

This verse guides mankind to identify thegenuine leaders of the true faith as well as the impostors. It also helps to understand risalat and imamat.]

[21:73--Alanbiya:73]And We made them Imams who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of the alms, and Us (alone) did they serve;

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَAlSajdah:2432:24--Al sajdah:24]And We made of them Imams to guide by Our command when they were patient, and they were certain of Our communications.

The twelve Imams of the Ahl ul Bayt are the divinely commissioned leaders to guide mankind, and they are the custodians of the final word of Allah, with whom the Holy Prophet left the Quran (see hadith al thaqalayn) so that its meanings and application may not be corrupted by the hypocrites.

The Imamsmentioned in Sajdah: 24, like the prophets, are not separable from the scripture, as declared by the Holy Prophet in hadithal thaqalayn (see page 6). They are his Ahl ul Bayt.

The Holy Prophet said:

"Whosoever dieswithout recognising the Imam of his age dies the death of a pagan."

This versesays that all human beings in groups shall be called with their respective Imams. The identity of the true Imams will be their inseparability with the scripture and the Holy Prophet- they will lead to eternalsalvation

[17:71--Al Isra or bani Israil:71](Remember) the day when We will call every people with their Imam; then whoever is given his book in his right hand, these shall read their book; and they shall not be dealt with a whit unjustly

for verse baniisraeil:71 The book mentioned here is the record of deeds every individual will carry with him or her on the day of judgement. It will be visible to all. All human beings will appear with the guides (imams) they followed in their lives in the world. to give account of their deeds and faith. Blessed are they who followthe true guides (imams) of the Ahl ul Bayt, chosen by Allah and appointed by the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet said:

"Verily I am theImam among you. After me, Ali will be your Imam. After him, his sons in his progeny will be your Imams. Whosoever remains attached with them shall be saved and shall obtain salvation. Those whodisassociate themselves from them shall go astray and will certainly be lost."

[36:12—Al Yasin:12]Surely We give life to the dead, and We write down what they have sent before and their footprints, and We have recorded everything in a clear writing

Forverse Al yasin:12 On the day of judgement every individual, man or woman, will be brought to account for his or her deeds.

For Verse Yasin:12 Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir said that when this verse was revealed, Abu Bakr and Umar asked the Holy Prophet: "Is imamum mubin the Tawrat given to Musa?" The answer was: "No". Again they asked: "Is it Injil, given to Isa?" The answer was: "No". Then they asked: "Is it the Holy Quran?" "No", was the answer. Then turning towards Ali ibn abi Talib, the Holy Prophet said: "Verily this is the Imam in whom Allah has deposited the knowledge of everything." Then, addressing the people present there, the Holy Prophet said: "O people, there is no branch of knowledge Allah did not teach me and I have not conveyed it to Ali. Verily Allah has given me wisdom and I have given it to Ali. I am the city of knowledgeand Ali is its gate."

[28:41--Al qasas:41]And We made them Imams who call to the fire, and on the day of resurrection they shall not be assisted.

Nowhere in the Quran or in the traditions it is stated that they may also lead their followers to hell, but it is said that there are two types of Imams-"We appointed Imams, from among them, to guide (mankind) by our command (Sajdah: 24); and "We made them Imams who invite to the fire (Qasas: 41).

Those whoopposed these Imams in their lifetime and installed themselves as the leaders or rulers without any divine authority shall be the leaders mentioned in Qasas: 41 who will lead their followers to hell because they opposedthe book, the Holy Prophet and Allah.

On the day of resurrection the people will be divided in the followinggroups:

(i)Those who are most excellent and nearest to Allah.

(ii)Ashabulmaymanah-the followers of the book of Allah, the Holy Prophet and the Imams of his Ahl ul Bayt, the most excellent and nearest to Allah.

(iii)Ashabulmash-amah-the opponents of the first and the second groups.

Refer to the opening verses of al waqi-ah.

In these Ayats the Prophets and the Imams give the Shahdat for their Ummat!!